England's biggest wind farm in East Lancashire to double in size

The developers behind Scout Moor in Rossendale – already the largest on-shore wind farm in England - want to double the number of 100m tall turbines there from 26 to 52.

Scout Moor Wind Farm Expansion Ltd, a joint venture between United Utilities and the land’s co-owners, Peel Energy, said the scheme could eventually power up to 80,000 homes.

The expansion proposal comes as another firm, Coronation Power, confirmed it was exploring the possibility of building up to 17 turbines at nearby Rooley Moor.

Public consultation on that scheme, between Rossendale and Rochdale, will begin in Bacup and Whitworth next week.

Scout Moor Wind Farm Expansion Ltd said its turbines would provide ‘a substantial boost to the finances of the local community’.

Jon England, from Peel Energy, said: “This exclusive collaboration between Peel Energy and United Utilities will see the delivery of a wind farm that will sustainably generate enough electricity for it to be considered of national importance, whilst at the same time protecting and improving the local environment.

“These recent developments, and the consultation we have undertaken to date, have reaffirmed that the wind farm could be expanded if done in a way which is sensitive to the moorland and minimises disturbance to local residents.”

Peel Energy said it originally consulted residents on the principle of expanding the wind farm in December 2011, and that more detailed public consultation will take place in April.

Scout Moor Wind Farm Expansion Ltd said it planned to launch a co-operative ownership scheme to give residents the opportunity to buy a stake in the wind farm themselves.

It will also make an annual pot of £250,000 available for community projects and good causes.

Addressing environmental concerns, Jonathan Hodgkin, of United Utilities, said: “An expansion to the wind farm provides an opportunity to improve areas of heavily degraded peat moor as well as to protect and enhance wildlife habitat areas and water quality sources on Scout Moor.”

Scout Moor’s current £50million Edenfield site, which opened in September 2008 following a planning inquiry, has the capacity to produce enough electricity for around 40,000 homes over 25 years via the National Grid.

Corporation Power said its Rooley Moor turbines would stand at 125m and could produce power for 21,559 homes.

In an information leaflet circulated to residents, the London-based company said: “As well as potential local employment during the construction phase, there could also be operational and maintenance jobs during the lifetime of the windfarm, drawing on the renewable expertise that is building in the area.”

Public exhibitions regarding Rooley Moor Wind Farm will take place at Whitworth Civic Hall in Market Street, Whitworth, from 2pm to 7pm on February 27, and at Futures Park off Newchurch Road, Bacup, from 10.30am to 4.30pm on February 28.

Comments

Britain needs more energy. This will either come from renewables or fracking or nuclear. Which do you prefer near to you?

Britain needs more energy. This will either come from renewables or fracking or nuclear. Which do you prefer near to you?Excluded again

Britain needs more energy. This will either come from renewables or fracking or nuclear. Which do you prefer near to you?

Score: -8

darwenTower
12:22pm Tue 18 Feb 14

Excluded again wrote…

Britain needs more energy. This will either come from renewables or fracking or nuclear. Which do you prefer near to you?

Exactly.

[quote][p][bold]Excluded again[/bold] wrote:
Britain needs more energy. This will either come from renewables or fracking or nuclear. Which do you prefer near to you?[/p][/quote]Exactly.darwenTower

Excluded again wrote…

Britain needs more energy. This will either come from renewables or fracking or nuclear. Which do you prefer near to you?

Exactly.

Score: 6

batesempire
12:38pm Tue 18 Feb 14

what you waiting for crack on ... Need must this is the way forward

what you waiting for crack on ... Need must this is the way forwardbatesempire

what you waiting for crack on ... Need must this is the way forward

Score: -3

workaholic
3:37pm Tue 18 Feb 14

Yes sure - all these big corporations are interested in is 'saving the environment' and not profit !!!
And lets gloss it over by putting a miniscule amount of the profit we will make back into the community that should keep them happy!
Bribery without the corruption!

Yes sure - all these big corporations are interested in is 'saving the environment' and not profit !!!
And lets gloss it over by putting a miniscule amount of the profit we will make back into the community that should keep them happy!
Bribery without the corruption!workaholic

Yes sure - all these big corporations are interested in is 'saving the environment' and not profit !!!
And lets gloss it over by putting a miniscule amount of the profit we will make back into the community that should keep them happy!
Bribery without the corruption!

Score: 11

Noiticer
9:42pm Tue 18 Feb 14

An eyesore of the first order and what a profit the landowner will be making at our expense as each turbine generates a whacking subsidy. No doubt the landowner is an absentee and doesn't see them from his lounge window.

An eyesore of the first order and what a profit the landowner will be making at our expense as each turbine generates a whacking subsidy. No doubt the landowner is an absentee and doesn't see them from his lounge window.Noiticer

An eyesore of the first order and what a profit the landowner will be making at our expense as each turbine generates a whacking subsidy. No doubt the landowner is an absentee and doesn't see them from his lounge window.

Score: 7

It's a spade!
10:57pm Tue 18 Feb 14

Wind farms do not create jobs for local people. They are built elsewhere, transported in and erected by specialist teams who move around the country.

Wind farms never produce the energy that is "proposed" The key words above are "could" and "eventually."

Wind farms are not profitable as stand alone enterprises, the cost to build and maintain them far outweighs any energy produced.

Wind farms are subsidised by taxpayers, this money finds its way into pockets of big businesses and wealthy individuals. ie David Cameron's dad.

No amount of wind farms will provide even a fraction of this country's energy requirements in the future. So yes, it's either nuclear or shale gas!

Wind farms do not protect, preserve or enhance the environment. Large blocks of concrete, piling and tracks are preserving and protecting the natural habitat? Planting deciduous woodland would be preserving and protecting the natural habitat.

Wind farms will not reduce energy bills. Profits are kept by the companies, they're not charities. If the benefits are so clear why do they need to bribe the local community?

Global warming is as the word suggests a global problem. The US, China & India all refuse to be bound by any environmental agreements. They produce the majority of the world's carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. What we do in the UK makes not one jot of difference. However, big inroads could be made by people giving up driving, foreign holidays (flying) and of course keeping cattle. So if you are a "green" pro wind farm, save the planet type, I presume you also walk everywhere and never have 2 weeks in an all inclusive in Turkey every year!

Wind farms are a massive con and people need to wake up to the facts.

Wind farms do not create jobs for local people. They are built elsewhere, transported in and erected by specialist teams who move around the country.
Wind farms never produce the energy that is "proposed" The key words above are "could" and "eventually."
Wind farms are not profitable as stand alone enterprises, the cost to build and maintain them far outweighs any energy produced.
Wind farms are subsidised by taxpayers, this money finds its way into pockets of big businesses and wealthy individuals. ie David Cameron's dad.
No amount of wind farms will provide even a fraction of this country's energy requirements in the future. So yes, it's either nuclear or shale gas!
Wind farms do not protect, preserve or enhance the environment. Large blocks of concrete, piling and tracks are preserving and protecting the natural habitat? Planting deciduous woodland would be preserving and protecting the natural habitat.
Wind farms will not reduce energy bills. Profits are kept by the companies, they're not charities. If the benefits are so clear why do they need to bribe the local community?
Global warming is as the word suggests a global problem. The US, China & India all refuse to be bound by any environmental agreements. They produce the majority of the world's carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. What we do in the UK makes not one jot of difference. However, big inroads could be made by people giving up driving, foreign holidays (flying) and of course keeping cattle. So if you are a "green" pro wind farm, save the planet type, I presume you also walk everywhere and never have 2 weeks in an all inclusive in Turkey every year!
Wind farms are a massive con and people need to wake up to the facts.It's a spade!

Wind farms do not create jobs for local people. They are built elsewhere, transported in and erected by specialist teams who move around the country.

Wind farms never produce the energy that is "proposed" The key words above are "could" and "eventually."

Wind farms are not profitable as stand alone enterprises, the cost to build and maintain them far outweighs any energy produced.

Wind farms are subsidised by taxpayers, this money finds its way into pockets of big businesses and wealthy individuals. ie David Cameron's dad.

No amount of wind farms will provide even a fraction of this country's energy requirements in the future. So yes, it's either nuclear or shale gas!

Wind farms do not protect, preserve or enhance the environment. Large blocks of concrete, piling and tracks are preserving and protecting the natural habitat? Planting deciduous woodland would be preserving and protecting the natural habitat.

Wind farms will not reduce energy bills. Profits are kept by the companies, they're not charities. If the benefits are so clear why do they need to bribe the local community?

Global warming is as the word suggests a global problem. The US, China & India all refuse to be bound by any environmental agreements. They produce the majority of the world's carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. What we do in the UK makes not one jot of difference. However, big inroads could be made by people giving up driving, foreign holidays (flying) and of course keeping cattle. So if you are a "green" pro wind farm, save the planet type, I presume you also walk everywhere and never have 2 weeks in an all inclusive in Turkey every year!

Wind farms are a massive con and people need to wake up to the facts.

Score: 9

happycyclist
7:09am Wed 19 Feb 14

When everything's gone belly-up, and profits and losses are no longer of any importance, we'll still have these things in the north of England, and we'll still have people who know how to get them going and use them for local energy. I say build.

When everything's gone belly-up, and profits and losses are no longer of any importance, we'll still have these things in the north of England, and we'll still have people who know how to get them going and use them for local energy. I say build.happycyclist

When everything's gone belly-up, and profits and losses are no longer of any importance, we'll still have these things in the north of England, and we'll still have people who know how to get them going and use them for local energy. I say build.

Score: -4

steveo2000
7:53pm Wed 19 Feb 14

It's a spade! wrote…

Wind farms do not create jobs for local people. They are built elsewhere, transported in and erected by specialist teams who move around the country.

Wind farms never produce the energy that is "proposed" The key words above are "could" and "eventually."

Wind farms are not profitable as stand alone enterprises, the cost to build and maintain them far outweighs any energy produced.

Wind farms are subsidised by taxpayers, this money finds its way into pockets of big businesses and wealthy individuals. ie David Cameron's dad.

No amount of wind farms will provide even a fraction of this country's energy requirements in the future. So yes, it's either nuclear or shale gas!

Wind farms do not protect, preserve or enhance the environment. Large blocks of concrete, piling and tracks are preserving and protecting the natural habitat? Planting deciduous woodland would be preserving and protecting the natural habitat.

Wind farms will not reduce energy bills. Profits are kept by the companies, they're not charities. If the benefits are so clear why do they need to bribe the local community?

Global warming is as the word suggests a global problem. The US, China & India all refuse to be bound by any environmental agreements. They produce the majority of the world's carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. What we do in the UK makes not one jot of difference. However, big inroads could be made by people giving up driving, foreign holidays (flying) and of course keeping cattle. So if you are a "green" pro wind farm, save the planet type, I presume you also walk everywhere and never have 2 weeks in an all inclusive in Turkey every year!

Wind farms are a massive con and people need to wake up to the facts.

we want your opinion, not a cut and paste from a website!!

Having these relatively small groups of wind farms around the country, helps to cut down on our reliance on natural gas.

The gas powered power station at Blackburn wont need to be working 100%, as sources of electricity from scout moor, hyndburn windfarm, coal clough repowering and hameldon hill extention will be churning out free power in this windy part of the world.

what happens when the wind doesn't blow is another issue.

true, this is a common problem. But with the advent of "power to gas" converters (look it up) being designed and tested as we speak, then the wasted power generated while we sleep, will be pumped back into the gas network, as gas and then used in homes and power stations as back up.

People need to move with the times and think of the people 140 years ago worried about putting electricity and gas directly into homes. lets embrace the future and enjoy the moorland with the new additions. I for one wouldn't of even visited scout moor if it didn't have England's largest wind farm there already.

thanks.

[quote][p][bold]It's a spade![/bold] wrote:
Wind farms do not create jobs for local people. They are built elsewhere, transported in and erected by specialist teams who move around the country.
Wind farms never produce the energy that is "proposed" The key words above are "could" and "eventually."
Wind farms are not profitable as stand alone enterprises, the cost to build and maintain them far outweighs any energy produced.
Wind farms are subsidised by taxpayers, this money finds its way into pockets of big businesses and wealthy individuals. ie David Cameron's dad.
No amount of wind farms will provide even a fraction of this country's energy requirements in the future. So yes, it's either nuclear or shale gas!
Wind farms do not protect, preserve or enhance the environment. Large blocks of concrete, piling and tracks are preserving and protecting the natural habitat? Planting deciduous woodland would be preserving and protecting the natural habitat.
Wind farms will not reduce energy bills. Profits are kept by the companies, they're not charities. If the benefits are so clear why do they need to bribe the local community?
Global warming is as the word suggests a global problem. The US, China & India all refuse to be bound by any environmental agreements. They produce the majority of the world's carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. What we do in the UK makes not one jot of difference. However, big inroads could be made by people giving up driving, foreign holidays (flying) and of course keeping cattle. So if you are a "green" pro wind farm, save the planet type, I presume you also walk everywhere and never have 2 weeks in an all inclusive in Turkey every year!
Wind farms are a massive con and people need to wake up to the facts.[/p][/quote]we want your opinion, not a cut and paste from a website!!
Having these relatively small groups of wind farms around the country, helps to cut down on our reliance on natural gas.
The gas powered power station at Blackburn wont need to be working 100%, as sources of electricity from scout moor, hyndburn windfarm, coal clough repowering and hameldon hill extention will be churning out free power in this windy part of the world.
what happens when the wind doesn't blow is another issue.
true, this is a common problem. But with the advent of "power to gas" converters (look it up) being designed and tested as we speak, then the wasted power generated while we sleep, will be pumped back into the gas network, as gas and then used in homes and power stations as back up.
People need to move with the times and think of the people 140 years ago worried about putting electricity and gas directly into homes. lets embrace the future and enjoy the moorland with the new additions. I for one wouldn't of even visited scout moor if it didn't have England's largest wind farm there already.
thanks.steveo2000

It's a spade! wrote…

Wind farms do not create jobs for local people. They are built elsewhere, transported in and erected by specialist teams who move around the country.

Wind farms never produce the energy that is "proposed" The key words above are "could" and "eventually."

Wind farms are not profitable as stand alone enterprises, the cost to build and maintain them far outweighs any energy produced.

Wind farms are subsidised by taxpayers, this money finds its way into pockets of big businesses and wealthy individuals. ie David Cameron's dad.

No amount of wind farms will provide even a fraction of this country's energy requirements in the future. So yes, it's either nuclear or shale gas!

Wind farms do not protect, preserve or enhance the environment. Large blocks of concrete, piling and tracks are preserving and protecting the natural habitat? Planting deciduous woodland would be preserving and protecting the natural habitat.

Wind farms will not reduce energy bills. Profits are kept by the companies, they're not charities. If the benefits are so clear why do they need to bribe the local community?

Global warming is as the word suggests a global problem. The US, China & India all refuse to be bound by any environmental agreements. They produce the majority of the world's carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. What we do in the UK makes not one jot of difference. However, big inroads could be made by people giving up driving, foreign holidays (flying) and of course keeping cattle. So if you are a "green" pro wind farm, save the planet type, I presume you also walk everywhere and never have 2 weeks in an all inclusive in Turkey every year!

Wind farms are a massive con and people need to wake up to the facts.

we want your opinion, not a cut and paste from a website!!

Having these relatively small groups of wind farms around the country, helps to cut down on our reliance on natural gas.

The gas powered power station at Blackburn wont need to be working 100%, as sources of electricity from scout moor, hyndburn windfarm, coal clough repowering and hameldon hill extention will be churning out free power in this windy part of the world.

what happens when the wind doesn't blow is another issue.

true, this is a common problem. But with the advent of "power to gas" converters (look it up) being designed and tested as we speak, then the wasted power generated while we sleep, will be pumped back into the gas network, as gas and then used in homes and power stations as back up.

People need to move with the times and think of the people 140 years ago worried about putting electricity and gas directly into homes. lets embrace the future and enjoy the moorland with the new additions. I for one wouldn't of even visited scout moor if it didn't have England's largest wind farm there already.

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